Letter: Leave wages alone

Published: Sunday, Aug. 2 2015 2:27 p.m. MDT

In this Aug. 29, 2013, file photo, Christina Condori joins a crowd of fast-food workers and their supporters in protest, while picketing outside of a McDonald's restaurant in Memphis, Tenn.
(Jim Weber, Associated Press)

While allowing teenagers to increase frivolous spending would certainly be a good case against a minimum wage increase, this has never been the reason for opposition. Richard Davis completely avoids the real issue, which is that an artificial increase forces business to make up for it elsewhere, either in higher prices, decreased work force or both ("A question of fairness," Sept. 4).

Davis' argument that wage increases have not risen along with productivity since the 1970s completely ignores improvements in technology and automation that made that productivity possible.

Ironically, raising minimum wage will only accelerate this trend as businesses look to cut overhead.

Government should not reinforce complacency of the growing trend of adults making minimum wage by making it easier to subsist on an entry level job.

Davis assumes that the only solution is government intervention to force businesses to be more "fair," as if workers somehow deserve more, but greedy business owners cruelly hold back.

Alternatively, individuals can take accountability, improve themselves and work hard for a raise or seek a better job elsewhere. This requires no government intervention and is truly fair for businesses, consumers, taxpayers and, ultimately, the individuals struggling to make ends meet.